Customer Reviews

Monkey Grip

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All those years, Bill Wyman played superb bass in the Stones, stone-faced, off to the side. He laid down some of the greatest bass lines in rock and roll history in about as unpretentious a manner as humanly possible. And somehow, he managed to retain his sanity and his sense of humor while enduring the on-going soap opera of the Rolling Stones, from drug busts to woman-swaps to near-homicidal feuding. When he finally walked away from the Stones, they lost half of the greatest rhythm section in rock history, and in the years since, while the remaining four continue to tour to sold-out crowds around the world, Bill has gone on to become a successful writer, music historian, archivist, and archaeologist.
Wyman always was an enigma, due to his quiet nature. There was always much more going on with him than people realized. He was an army veteran. He was older. He was the Stone with a legitimate kid and wife from the very beginning, who had to balance the length of his hair between his night job and his new status as a rock and roll rebel. His romantic exploits made even Mick Jagger look like a choirboy (well, almost, though perhaps not the best-behaved choirboy). Sadly, though Wyman's song-writing ability was always there, but you'd not know it looking at the Stones' song credits. The Jagger/Richards team was a notorious rip-off combo, appropriating song credits and therefore royalties from Wyman, Mick Taylor and later Ronnie Wood.

In 1974, Bill became the first Stone to go solo with the release of his album 'Monkey Grip'. The music on the record is top-notch, heavy on the horns and a nice mix of rock and rhythm and blues. What makes the record memorable in addition to its solid music is that Wyman's sense of humor-- subdued for years due to the strains of working in the Stones--literally exploded into action. Every song on this album is a rollicking, tongue-in-cheek send-up on the perils of love and lust. It is one of the few albums I can slap on the turntable knowing full well I will chuckle at some of Wyman's lines and musical phrasing. The cagy Wyman knew full well what he was doing with this record. He was having fun. The music itself is whimsical, creative, and infectiously listenable. Whether talking about being pursued by a spurned lover with a gun, or sticking like monkey grip glue to a cheating lover, the songs are like short Peter Sellers movies. Guns, spurned crazy lovers, lovers that make your legs bend like a willow tree, white lightning that tastes so good, the desire to be the best dresser in town, all these statements are part of the wacky plots of songs that manage to rock and enchant.

You can't go wrong with this album. If you are expecting Rolling Stones, forget it. If you are expecting serious R&B, forget that, too. But if you want some insight into the creative mind of Bill Wyman, and you want to hear some original, bluesy riffs with fiddles, piano, horns, Motown-sounding lady backups, and Bill playing bass, piano, acoustic, electric and twanging away on a Jew's harp, as well as doing some pretty passable singing, you will not want to miss this record.

I consider it a must have in the Rolling Stones canon, if you are also following individual careers. It's fun all the way.

Four and a half stars, but I'm going to round upwards. Though 'Monkey Grip' is not in the same league as Mozart or the Stones, it is none the less a true contribution to rock and roll by one of rock's great bassists.

Only tne truly heartless would disdain this classic album . I purchased it about the same time as "It's Only Rock n' Roll"...and quickly came to love it.Don't come here looking for the Rolling Stones-if you do ,you will be dissapointed.This is Bill Wyman.The musicianship is first class,the production is crystal clear...the songs are a mighty fun time indeed.
And shoot me if you want,but "What A Blow" would NOT sound out of place on the previously mentioned Stones cd.

Fans of "In Another Land" from the Stone's Satanic Majesty album will find nothing familiar on this album. Having got any acid rock pretense out of his system with that '67 tune, Bill emerges seven years later with a fun, raunchy album more akin to his "Downtown Suzy" B-Side. Bill is not Cat Stevens, nor does he wish to be. Simple, down and dirty. Strictly for fun.

this album is simply great. the tunes are strictly a product of what it is to be Bill Wyman. The album should be taken as a rare glimpse of what it is to be Bill. Great jamming and humorous lyrics kill any chances for pop success. but its a [good] record. The cover alone is worth it... With lyrics like, " I like to cruise around, and be the best dresser in my hometown..." you gotta love it

It's a nice 70's light rock/soulful album. Years ago when I had a record player I had this and for a while had an 8 track of it. I was so excieted when it came out on cd, although like many things from my past, I wondered if I would still like it and I do.

I wish Bill Wyman had been allowed to do some Stones vocals because I like his voice.

As you can tell from previous reviews, either you will love this or hate it. Musically, the songs are excellent, but Bill's voice is thin with little range. Stylistically, the album is reminiscent of Beggar's Banquet-era Stones. Lyrically... well, if you thought Mick was the horny Stone, you'll change your mind with one listen to this. Sexual innuendo and double entendres are rife throughout. Overall, is it any wonder Bill's songs were rejected for Stones albums? Buy this with caution - it's not going to blow you away on the first listen.

Bill released this when he became dissatisfied that Mick & Keith always rejected his songs. Here's the proof that Mick & Keith were right. Bill attempts a Stonesy, country-rock record reminiscent of his good friend, Ronnie Lane. He should have asked Ronnie for help on this one. Whether or not the songs are really any good, the fact remains that Bill is not and never will be a singer. Stick to playing the bass, Bill.

It arrived when it was supposed to. (Of course I had to pay extra to insure that it would.)
Other then that...this was a gift, so I have no clue about the quality.

I've had this album since it was first released, and it has remained one of my all time favourites. Wonderful songs, laid-bad arrangements, plenty of humour. I actually like this better than the Stones.